Journey’s End

Chapter 25

The Battle for Helm’s Deep

I followed Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli as we went to take our places along the wall.

We made our way past King Théoden, who caught me by the arm. I turned on my heel in surprise to face him.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“I am going to find my place along the wall.” I replied calmly, knowing what he was going to say next.

“You should be in the caves.”

“I think not.”

“I insist that you go down to the caves!”

His command startled me, and I shrugged away his hand, while planting my feet firmly on the ground.

“Understand this; I will fight, whether you like it or not. You can either let me stand on the wall with the other soldiers, or I will go and stand outside that gate and protect it until I draw my last breath.” I hissed, meeting his determined gaze with narrowed eyes. He sighed, seeing that there was no point in arguing and I turned and walked away quickly, meeting Aragorn’s amused gaze with a victorious smile.

Aragorn was to command the elves and soldiers along the section of the wall we were stationed along. He walked away to speak with the elves, as Legolas, Gimli and myself found our places. I bit my lower lip nervously as I saw the approaching lights in the distance.

They had arrived.

“Arg…You could have picked a better spot.” Gimli grumbled as he hopped around, trying to see over the tall wall. I jumped a little at a sudden flash of lightning, closely accompanied by a rumble of thunder. A storm was coming.

I turned at the sound of footsteps and saw Aragorn approach us. He stood between Legolas and myself and looked at the approaching army with grim determination.

“Well lad, whatever luck you live by, let’s hope it lasts the night.” The Dwarf sighed.

“Your friends are with you, Aragorn.” Murmured Legolas, and I laid a hand on Aragorn’s arm.

“Until the very end.” I whispered as I looked up at him. He smiled weakly.

“Let’s hope they last the night.” Muttered Gimli.

“We will see the dawn… I know that much.” I murmured, turning back towards the Uruk-Hai.

Aragorn stepped away from us and began walking up and down the line of archers that stood behind us.

“Daer ú-o chyn, Ú-danno i failad a thi; an úben tannatha le failad.” (Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!) He cried, as I reached for my bow and slotted an arrow into place, just so I was ready. A few droplets of rain splashed my face, and then the downpour started. Below us, the Uruks came to halt, and a few roared. The rain bounced off their metal armour as they stood, silently surveying us. Aragorn was right; the army before us was at least ten thousand strong. Then the Uruks started thumping their spears up and down in a steady, menacing rhythm.

“What’s happening out there?” Gimli asked, jumping up and down.

“Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?” Legolas smiled, turning to the Dwarf. I smiled a little at how he could still see the light side of things. Gimli laughed and I raised my eyebrows at the elf. His face was drenched with rain, and I probably didn’t look much better. I drew up my bow and pulled the bowstring to my ear, waiting for Aragorn’s command.

The tension in the air was as tight as the hundreds of bowstrings that were being simultaneously pulled back. Apparently, the strain was too much for some, as suddenly, an old man released his arrow accidentally. It shot one of the first Uruk-Hai in the neck.

“Dartho!”(Hold!) Yelled Aragorn as the Uruk fell forward with a groan.

“Well,” I murmured, “Look on the bright side. At least he hit something. Now it’s only nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine to go.” I smiled, picking out an Uruk to be my first kill of the night. The army roared, and began to charge.

“Hado i philinn!”(Prepare to fire!) Shouted Aragorn over the roars.

“Hain 'war di na lanc a nu ranc!”(Their armour is weak at the neck and under the arms.) Legolas murmured, drawing back his own bowstring.

“Leithio i philinn!”(Fire!)

I released my bowstring and smirked as I saw the majority of the first line of Uruk-Hai fall below us.

“Did they hit anything?” Gimli asked.

“Enough for me to loose count.” I replied, fitting another arrow as more cries of ‘Fire!’ came from the other walls.

“Leithio i philinn!” Commanded Aragorn again and I shot down another enemy.

“Send them to me! Come on!” Challenged Gimli, much to my amusement.

“Pendraid!”(Ladders!) Aragorn cried and I looked in horror at the structures that were rising towards us.

“Good.” Growled Gimli.

“Swords! Swords!” Aragorn yelled behind us as the first ladder made contact with the wall close to me. I ferociously attacked anything that came near me that wasn’t a man, elf or dwarf.

“Legolas! Two already!” I heard Gimli cry.

“I’m on seventeen!” Legolas answered.

So it was a competition then? So childish. I shook my head and smirked as I shoved an Uruk off the wall and tried to push the ladder after it. As I shoved at the ladder, I came face to face with an Uruk. I ducked his swipe and stabbed him in the stomach, causing him to topple backwards; I used his weight to bring down the ladder.

Turning back, I soon found myself lost in the chaos of the battle. I barely heard anything except the yells around me and the thumping of my own frantic heart.

I dodged the blow of an Uruk and dispatched him quickly, just as I heard a yell.

“Togo hon dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago hon!” (Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him!) Aragorn yelled, I turned to see a tall Uruk running towards the wall below me, brandishing a white-hot flame. What was going on?

I saw Legolas pierce him with two arrows, but he didn’t stop running.

Then something happened.

All I was aware of was noise. The screams of men and elves, and a loud bang. Then I saw fire, and rocks, and suddenly my feet were no longer on solid ground. I yelled as I hurtled downwards. Then I was aware of water. I struggled briefly, trying to find the surface. I was so disorientated. What had just happened?

I broke through the surface with a gasp and looked around. All the sounds I heard were faint, and were muted by the dull ringing in my ears. I realised that I was still clutching my sword. I turned to see a horde of Uruk-Hai charging towards me, and I realised with sickening horror that a large portion of the wall was missing. I struggled to get out of the water, when above me I heard someone cry; ‘Aragorn!’

I looked up to see Gimli hurtling through the air… Wait… What?

Still utterly confused, I let my survival instincts kick in, which is probably why I ducked as I heard Aragorn command someone to ‘Fire!’ I watched the rain of arrows fly overhead in a dull daze, and then I turned back to see Aragorn charging towards me. I raised my sword and charged at the Uruks with a cry as he approached my side and suddenly, I was in battle once again. The confusion of my fall forgotten, I fought for my life against the creatures until I heard a cry above me.

“Aragorn, fall back to the keep. Get your men out of there!”

It was Théoden.

“Nan barad!”(To the Keep!) Cried Aragorn. He turned to one of the walls above us . “Nan barad! Haldir! Nan barad!” He called to the elf. “Rana!” He yelled to me, “Are you alright?”

I rolled my eyes as I drove my sword into the stomach of an Uruk.

“I’m fine!” I cried, “Stop worrying!” I thought I was telling him off, but I smiled a little in spite of myself. I turned to run to the steps, noticing Gimli being dragged away from the fight.

“Haldir!”

I turned at Aragorn’s yell to see the elf stagger a little, and then get struck from behind by an Uruk.

“No!” I screamed, fighting my way over to the steps. My path was blocked, but I saw Aragorn run up the steps to Haldir, and catch the elf as he fell. Franticly I fought my way through the Uruks as I saw Aragorn come under attack. He dispatched the Uruks without trouble, and then turned to one that was climbing a ladder. He punched it in the face and then leapt onto the ladder, pushing it away from the wall and falling with it.

“Aragorn what are you doing?” I yelled as he leapt onto several Uruks and began making his way back towards me.

“Quickly, to the gates!” He said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me up the steps. I ran along side him, dodging Uruks and the bodies beneath our feet. I noticed a particularly large Uruk raise it’s blade above a man who cowered on the ground. I broke away from Aragorn’s side and raised my sword to defend the soldier. I managed to block the Uruk’s blow, barely. The tip of its blade caught my shoulder as I forced the creature back and lopped off its head. I winced a little as I turned and pulled the man to his feet. He was the father of the children I had met earlier. As I franticly tried to remember his name, Aragorn caught my good arm.

“Rana.” He gasped. I smiled weakly at the man and allowed myself to be dragged away, just as I remembered the man’s name, Daroth.

“That was reckless.” Aragorn muttered as we ran. I clutched my shoulder and examined it quickly. It wasn’t that bad.

“You would have done the same, I just got there first.” I shot back, with a smug smirk. Aragorn just sighed and rolled his eyes.